Angola: Minister for transport inaugurates railway stations

Angolan minister for transport Augusto da Silva Tomas has inaugurated seven new railway stations belonging to the Luanda Railway Company (CFL), according to Angola Press.

The stations, which were constructed following the pledge of president Jose Eduardo dos Santos to rehabilitate and modernise train services in the region, represent the end of the first phase of the project.

Earlier this year, the minister inaugurated the first nine newly-constructed stations on the route serving Luanda, Bengo, Kwanza-Norte and Malanje.

The development of the railways has largely been funded by China, which is Angola's biggest customer for oil.

Far East investment has led to a dramatic reform in the Angolan rail industry, with 20 new railways being promised by the government and an increased interconnectivity between them.

Director of railways Julio Bango Joaquim previous commented on the project, saying: "The project is ambitious, for the medium and long term and once complete will enable the country to be interconnected by the railways."